[♪♪♪] >> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO "THE WEEK IN REVIEW" I'M AMANDA VINICKY.

PARIS SCHUTZ HAS THE EVENING OFF.

WE WILL BE JOINED BY OUR "THE WEEK IN REVIEW" GUESTS IN JUST A MOMENT BUT FIRST, SOME OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES... >> IT'S LABOR DAY WEEKEND AND SAID TO BE MOSTLY SUNNY WHICH MEANS CHICAGO'S MARKING THE END OF SUMMER WITH A SLATE OF FESTIVITIES AND LAST-MINUTE LAKEFRONT FUN.

OFFICIALS ARE ASKING SWIMMERS TO BE CAREFUL AND FOR BOATERS TO WEAR LIFE JACKETS.

>> IT IS A SIMPLE THING JUST WEAR IT.

THE ONLY THING IS HAVE A PLAN.

FILE IT WITH YOUR LOCAL MARINA YOUR LOVED ONES, LET THEM KNOW WHAT YOU ARE COG.

WHEN WE CAN TAKE OUT THE SEARCH WE WIN.

>> OUR BEACHES WILL CLOSE AT THE END OF THIS WEEKEND.

ON MONDAY AT 7:00 P.M. AND I WANT TO REMIND EVERYONE THAT WHEN THERE IS NO LIFEGUARD ON DUTY, YOU CANNOT BE IN THE WATER.

THERE ARE CLEAR SIGNAGE ACROSS ALL OF THE LAKEFRONT AREAS.

>> THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT'S TAKING EXTRA PRECAUTIONS FOR WHAT IS HISTORICALLY A VIOLENT LONG WEEKEND.

SUPERINTENDENT DAVID BROWN SAYS OFFICERS WILL BE IN HARBORS, PARKS AND NEIGHBORHOODS AND DOWNTOWN ALTHOUGH UNDER STAFF SOMETHING AN ISSUE BUT WITH A NEW POLICY LIMITING OVERTIME, OFFICERS WILL HAVE ONE DAY OFF CANCELED OVER THE HOLIDAY INSTEAD OF TWO.

>> AND, YES, WE HAVE REASSIGNED SOME OF OUR OFFICERS FROM DESK DUTIES TO FILL DUTIES.

DOING PATROLS SO THAT OUR PRESENCE CAN BE FELT AND THE PERCEPTIONS OF CRIME ARE ALSO SOMETHING THAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT WHEN THEY SEE OFFICERS PEOPLE PARTICULARLY IN THE CTA PEOPLE FEEL SAFER.

WE WANT THEM TO BE SAFER BUT WE WANT TO DEAL WITH THE PERCEPTIONS OF CRIME SO WE DEAL WITH THAT.

>> DEPLOYED STARTING TODAY AS A NEW STRATEGY A DOZEN CANINE TEAMS.

THEY WILL JOIN C.P.D.

OFFICERS AND UNARMED PRIVATE GUARDS ON L'S AND AT TRAIN STATIONS.

>> THE C.P.D.

IS HIGHLIGHTING THREE MAJOR INVESTIGATIONS THAT SUPERINTENDENT BROWN SAYS LED TO 25 ARRESTS, MOSTLY ON ILLEGAL DRUG CHARGES.

BROWN SAYS THEY ARE TAKING DOWN GANG MEMBERS HE CALLED NOTORIOUS FOR THREATENING LITTLE VILLAGE AND PILSEN COMMUNITIES.

>> AS HE APPROACHES THE 40 YEAR LINE WITH THE CHICAGO BEARS THE FRANCHISE'S LEADER IS CALLING GAME OVER.

THE PRESIDENT AND C.E.O.

TED PHILLIPS WILL RETIRE IN FEBRUARY.

HE COUNTS THE 1999 RENOVATION OF SOLDIER FIELD AS HIS GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENT THIS AS THE FRANCHISE IS LOOKING TO LEAVE THE CITY FOR ARLINGTON HEIGHTS.

THE BEARS ON THURSDAY WILL UNVEIL PLANS FOR A NEW STADIUM AND ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT AT THE ARLINGTON RACETRACK.

>> AND NOW TO OUR "THE WEEK IN REVIEW" PANEL.

JOINING US ARE TINA SFONDELES, CHIEF POLITICAL REPORTER FOR THE "CHICAGO SUN-TIMES".

CLARENCE PAGE PULITZER PRIZE WINNING COLUMNIST FOR THE TRIBUNE.

BRANDON POPE A JOURNALIST, REPORTER AND ANCHOR AT WCIUTV AND LAURA RODRIGUEZ PRESA, WHO COVERS THE LATINO COMMUNITY IN THE CHICAGO AREA FOR THE "CHICAGO TRIBUNE".

THANK YOU.

AND WE ARE GOING TO BEGIN WITH PRESIDENT BIDEN AND HIS PRIMETIME ADDRESS LAST NIGHT WHICH HE WARNED THAT AMERICAN DEMOCRACY IS UNDER ASSAULT.

BIDEN SAYS MAGA RAP REPUBLICANS ARE TRYING TO TAKE AMERICA BACKWARDS.

>> BACKWARDS TO AN AMERICA WHERE THERE IS NO RIGHT TO CHOOSE, NO RIGHT TO PRIVACY, NO RIGHT TO CONTRACEPTION.

NO RIGHT TO MARRY WHO YOU LOVE.

AND THEY PROMOTE AUTHOR TEARIAN LEADERS AND FAN THE FLAMES OF POLITICAL VIOLENCE.

I WILL NOT STAND BY AND WATCH.

I WILL NOT.

THE WILL OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WILL BE OVERTURNED BY CONSPIRACY THEORIES AND BASELESS EVIDENCE OF FRAUD.

I WILL NOT STAND BY AND WATCH ELECTIONS STOLEN BY PEOPLE WHO SIMPLY REFUSE TO ACCEPT THAT THEY LOST.

>> CLARENCE IN A TYPICAL SPEECH A GRAVE ONE TO SAY THE LEAST WHAT DID YOU MAKE OF IT?

>> WELL, I THOUGHT IT WAS A VERY -- COUPLE OF THINGS.

FOR ONE THING, I COULDN'T HELP BUT FELT LIKE I WAS AT A POLITICAL RALLY.

THAT IS NOT WHAT BIDEN WANTED TO CONVEY.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME, AND I WILL SAY IN FAIRNESS IT WAS A VERY GOOD SPEECH ADDRESSING A VERY IMPORTANT ISSUE THAT IS AN ONGOING THEME OF HIS PRESIDENCY.

HE IS THE SOUL OF AMERICA.

GOING BACK TO CHARLOTTESVILLE AND THE RANKER OF THE CAMPAIGN AND GOING TO RIGHT NOW AND PEOPLE WORRIED ABOUT CIVIL WAR AMERICA.

THAT IS SORT OF THING IS REAL AND I THOUGHT HE ADDRESSED THAT VERY WELL.

AT THE SAME TIME, BECAUSE DONALD TRUMP IS SUCH A SPECTER ON THE POLITICAL SCENE RIGHT NOW, HE IS NOT A CANDIDATE, BUT HE IS THE MOST POWERFUL FIGURE IN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY, HE IS A CENTRAL FIGURE IN WAYS YOU CANNOT SEPARATE FROM THE POLITICAL SCENE LIKE SEPARATING WHITE FROM RICE.

YOU HAVE THAT SORT OF A PRESENCE.

HE HAS TO ADDRESS DONALD TRUMP AND HE DID THAT.

AND HE TALKED ABOUT THE MAGA A MAGA REPUBLICANS WHO SIMPLY TRYING TO SEPARATE TRUMP SUPPORTERS FROM THE REST OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IT IS NOT EASY.

AND I THOUGHT HE SUCCEEDED IN MAKING THE POINTS.

OF COURSE REPUBLICANS AND THOUGHTS AND OTHERS WERE RIGHT ON IT, IMMEDIATELY AFTERWARDS WITH THEIR COUNTER MESSAGE.

BUT I THOUGHT THE INDEPENDENT SWING VOTERS HE WANTED TO REACH AND FIRE UP THE DEMOCRATS FOR THE MIDTERMS HE DID A GOOD JOB.

>> IS THERE A WAY TO SEPARATE MAGA REPUBLICANS FROM THE MAINSTREAM G.O.P.?

>> THAT IS WHAT HE IS TRYING TO DO.

BUT IF YOU TALK TO MODERATE REPUBLICANS TODAY HE ANGERED THEM.

HE THEY DID NOT LIKE THE DECISION THEY SAID HE IS DIVIDING THE COUNTRY EVEN MORE.

AND OBVIOUSLY THE POINT WAS TO TALK HOW WE NEED TO PROTECT DEMOCRACY AND HE IS CONCERNED OVER THE TRUMP SUPPORTERS THE ELECTION WAS STOLEN AND RUNNING IF ELECTIONS THIS YEAR.

ELECTION DENIERS.

THE THING IS THIS WAS FOR INDEPENDENTS AND SWING VOTERS AND UNCLEAR WHO SAW IT.

WE WERE TALKING BEFORE THE SHOW THAT NONE OF THE MAJOR NETWORKS CARRIED IT.

THERE WAS AN EPISODE OF LAW AND ORDER ON NBC LAST NIGHT.

IT'S LIKE HE IS TALKING TO THESE POLITICAL MINDED PEOPLE THAT I DON'T KNOW IF HE IS REACHING OUT TO THE REST.

>> BRANDON WEIGH-IN WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THE MAJOR NETWORKS MAKE THE DECISION TO NOT RUN THIS SPEECH AFTER ALL, BIDEN IS THE PRESIDENT, IT IS A VERY SERIOUS AND BY HIS ACCOUNT EXISTENTIAL TOPIC IS THIS A DEPARTURE FROM THE TRUMP DAYS LESSON LEARNED, A MISTAKE?

>> IT WAS STRIKING ABSOLUTELY THAT THE BROADCAST NETWORKS DID NOT PICK THIS UP.

YOU HAD ABC PLAYING A CELEBRITY GAME SHOW AT THE SAME TIME WHICH DID NOT HELP THE OPTICS OF SEEMING LIKE BIDEN WAS GIVING A CAMPAIGN SPEECH HERE.

TIMING THE MIDTERMS COMING UP.

HE LEFT THE WHITE HOUSE TO GIVE THE SPEECH AND HAD A RED BACKDROP THAT GAVE OFF THEE ATTICS THERE AND HE CALLED OUT MAGA REPUBLICANS BY NAME.

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT YOU DON'T SEE HAPPEN WITH A LOT OF PRESIDENTS WHEN TALKING ABOUT A SPECIFIC GROUP WITHIN A PARTY WHILE THEY ARE IN OFFICE.

SO BIDEN TOOK A BIG RISK THERE.

YOU SAW THE OUTRAGE AND WE'LL SEE IF IT LEADS TO A BUMP IN THE POLLS OR THE MIDTERM ELECTIONS.

IT WAS A SPEECH ITSELF THAT MANY THOUGHT WAS LONG OVERDUE.

THERE HAVE BEEN ANCIENT AFRICAN-AMERICAN PROVERB WE TRY TO TELL Y'ALL.

THE TEA PARTY ARGUMENTS ABOUT THE LEGITIMACY OF BARACK OBAMA'S BIRTH CERTIFICATE THAT IS WHAT STARTED THIS MOVEMENT AND NOW YOU SEE THIS EXTREMISM AND FEAR THE JEANNIE MAYBE TOO FAR OUT OF THE BOTTLE.

>> LAURA, I WANT TO GET THERE BECAUSE WE TALKED ABOUT WHO THE PRESIDENT WAS TRYING TO REACH, INDEPENDENTS, MODERATES THOSE WHO MIGHT BE WILLING TO LEAVE THE TRUMP, DID HE REACH ANYBODY?

DO SPEECHES LIKE THIS MAKE ANY IMPACT ANYMORE?

>> I THINK THAT THE PEOPLE OUR COMMUNITY IS SO SELF-AWARE AND SO WILLING TO LEARN MORE.

BECAUSE THEY'VE GOTTEN SO MUCH INFORMATION FROM THEM THAT THEY ARE MORE WILLING TO MAKE THEIR OWN OPINION AND FIGURE OUT WHAT THEY WANT TO DO BASED ON INFORMATION THAT THEY GET ELSEWHERE.

NOT SURE EXACTLY, RIGHT, IF THEY ARE REACHING ANYONE IN SPECIFIC.

>> AND SO SPEAKING OF THAT POLARIZATION AND THE SILOS THE COUNTRY IS DIVIDED IN WANTING TO TOUCH ON A NEW POLL THAT IS OUT FROM U GOFF THAT FINDS 43% OF AMERICANS BELIEVE THAT A CIVIL WAR IN THE NEXT DECADE IS LIKELY.

NOT POSSIBLE, BUT PROBABLE.

CLARENCE, YOU'VE COVERED WASHINGTON POLITICS, DIVIDED AS IT GETS FOR A WHILE NOW.

WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THESE FINDINGS?

>> HIV'S COVERED IT SINCE ALMOST THE LAST CIVIL WAR.

I AM INTRIGUED BY THE TOPIC.

I'VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT IT A LOT LATELY.

I REMEMBER THE 6 OWE VERY WELL WHEN WE HAD RIOTS INCLUDING IN CHICAGO AND THAT IS AS CLOSE I CAN IMAGINE WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IN A CIVIL WAR.

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE SEEN THE MOVIE BELFAST.

HE WAS IN BELFAST OLD BOY DURING WHAT THEY CALLED THE TROUBLES IN NORTHERN IRELAND IN THE LATE 60s EARLY 70s AND DID THIS MOVIE GIVES YOU A GRASSROOTS VIEW OF WHAT THAT WAS LIKE.

AND MANY PEOPLE CALLED THAT THE IRISH CIVIL WAR.

AND I SAW THE MOVIE AND I THINK THAT IS WHAT THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT.

IT'S NOT LIKE YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE THE BLUE AND THE GRAY FACING OFF.

BUT YOU HAVE A LOT OF LITTLE GORILLA ACTIONS AND ATTACKS PEOPLE DRESSED LIKE CIVILIANS DURING THE DAY-TO-DAY WORK, AND ASSUME A BOMB GOES OFF OR A SUDDEN STREET RIOT OR PROTEST.

THAT IS WHAT WE'RE ALREADY STARTING TO SEE NOW.

YOU HAVE F.B.I.

ON ALERT FOR ATTACKS.

WE'VE ALREADY HAD OTHER ATTACKS.

>> JANUARY 6, OF COURSE.

>> THAT IS RIGHT.

WHICH REMINDS ME OF THE 1850s.

BEFORE THE CIVIL WAR, YOU HAD THE KANSAS-NEBRASKA FRACAS WHICH PEOPLE CALL THE PRECIVIL WAR FROM 50-60.

LOOK IT UP.

I DO THINK THAT THOSE PROBLEMS, THOSE CONFLICTS, THE SEED OF RESENTED.

AND CERTAIN LEADERS RISE TO TURN AMERICANS AGAINST EACH OTHER THEY ARE ALWAYS AROUND AND WE NEED TO BE AWARE OF IT.

>> TINA, WEIGH-IN BECAUSE YOU ALSO COVER WASHINGTON AND WE ARE SEEING JANUARY 6TH ALSO A LOT OF THE TENSION AND NEW REVELATIONS TODAY IN TERMS OF THE DOCUMENTS THAT FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP HAD AT MAR-A-LAGO THAT BEEN SEIZED BY THE F.B.I.

WE HAVE THE MIDTERMS WITH A LOT OF NOMINEES NOT A LOT BUT NOMINEES THAT COULD BE RUNNING ELECTIONS WHO BELIEVE THAT 2020 WAS RIGGED.

HOW DO WE GO ABOUT MAINTAINING A DEMOCRACY?

WHAT ARE ARE YOUR TAKEAWAYS?

YOU SEE ALL OF THE DANGEROUS THINGS PLAY OUT?

>> AS WE SAID, LIKE WE NEED THESE PROTECTIONS IN PLACE LIKE THE PROTECTIONS WE HAVE IN PLACE AS AN AMERICAN GOVERNMENT AND DISMANTLING OF THESE THINGS ARE WHAT MIGHT CAUSE A CIVIL WAR.

WE HAVE THE INSTITUTIONS IN PLACE THAT COULD PROTECT US.

BUT IF WE HAVE A MOB OF PEOPLE THAT BELIEVE THAT THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE WHO ARE GOING AFTER THE F.B.I.

RIGHT NOW, AS YOU SAID WITH THE TRUMP INVESTIGATION, THERE'S ALL SECURITY ALERTS.

AND SOME REPUBLICANS SAYING THAT WE CAN'T TRUST THE F.B.I.

WHEN YOU ARE STARTING TO SEE THE STEP-BY-STEP DISMANTLING OF THE INSTITUTIONS THAT ARE SET TO PROTECT US IS WHEN THE TROUBLE MIGHT HAPPEN.

THE GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO DO THE BEST TO MAKE SURE THE INSTITUTIONS ARE IN PLACE.

>> WE ARE SEEING SOME OF THIS POLITICAL DIVIDE OVER A CONTROVERSIAL PLAY OUT RIGHT NOW IN ILLINOIS.

I'M NOT TALKING YET ABOUT THE GOVERNOR'S RACE.

RATHER THE ARRIVAL OF AT LEAST 75 CENTRAL AMERICAN IMMIGRANTS WHO HAD BEEN IN TEXAS AND THEN WERE BUSSED BY GOVERNOR GREG ABBOTT AND THE STATE WHO ARRANGED TO HAVE THEM BROUGHT TO CHICAGO.

AND MAYOR LIGHTFOOT TALKED ABOUT HOW CHICAGO IS WELCOME THESE MIGRANTS THE A PRESS CONFERENCE THURSDAY AND TOOK A SHOT AT TEXAS GOVERNOR GREG ABBOTT.

>> WE'VE ORGANIZED AND COLLABORATED AND COME TOGETHER TO INSURE THAT A GROUP OF MIGRANTS FROM VENEZUELA WOULD HAVE FOOD, CLOTHING AND SHELTER.

AND THAT'S WHAT WE DO.

BECAUSE THIS IS WHO WE ARE AS CHICAGOANS.

WITH THESE CONTINUED POLITICAL STUNTS, GOVERNOR ABBOTT HAS CONFIRMED WHAT UNFORTUNATELY MANY OF US ALREADY KNOW THAT HE IS A MAN WITHOUT ANY MORALS, HUMANITY, OR SHAME.

>> NOW, LAURA YOU HAVE BEEN COVERING THIS FOR THE TRIBUNE I BELIEVE THEREUPON THESE INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES ARRIVAL ON WEDNESDAY NIGHT.

WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT WHY THEY CAME TO THE UNITED STATES?

>> SO IT IS A SIMILAR STORY WE HEAR FROM IMMIGRANTS THAT COME FROM ALL OVER EXTREME POVERTY, NO JOBS, LOTS OF VIOLENCE, BUT MAINLY THE PEOPLE WE'RE SEEING NOW SEEKING ASYLUM IS RUNNING AND FLEEING A DICTATORSHIP, A GOVERNMENT THAT IS NOT ALLOWING THEM TO EVEN FIND A GOOD SALARY TO FEED THEIR FAMILIES AND THAT IS A STORY WE HEAR FROM ALL OF THEM, ALL OF THEM ARE JUST TRYING TO GET TO A PLACE IN THIS COUNTRY WHERE THEY CAN FIND WHAT THEY CALL A BETTER JOB TO FEED THEIR FAMILIES.

>> POTENTIALLY, SEEKING ASYLUM AND DO LEGAL COURSE.

LAURA WHAT MORE AT THIS TIME CAN YOU SHARE WITH US HOW THEY ARE DOING?

YOU'VE SPOKEN WITH SEVERAL OF THESE INDIVIDUALS AGAIN UPON ARRIVAL AND SINCE THEY'VE BEEN PLACED IN TEMPORARY HOUSING?

>> YES, A LOT OF THEM HAVE KNOWN OF DIFFERENT MIGRANTS AND HAVE BEEN TRANSPORTED TO NEW YORK AND WASHINGTON AND OF COURSE, CHICAGO.

A LOT OF THEM HAVE NO ONE IN THIS COUNTRY.

THEY ONLY COME WITH SORT OF LIKE MAYBE A NEIGHBOR OR A FRIEND OR THEY HEARD OF SOMEONE BEING SOMEWHERE IN THE COUNTRY AND THAT IS WHO THEY HAVE COME TO REUNITE.

THE PEOPLE THAT ARRIVED IN CHICAGO THEY HAVE NO ONE TO RELY ON.

AND THEY'VE BEEN PRETTY MUCH BY WORD OF MOUTH THAT THEY END UP IN CHICAGO.

A LOT OF THEM -- A LOST VENEZUELAN MIGRANTS HAVE BEEN ARRIVING TO THE CITY FOR THE PAST MONTH NOT IN BUSES DIRECTED FROM TEXAS BUT FROM WASHINGTON AND FROM NEW YORK.

AND THEY HAVE BEEN GOOGLING SOME OF THEM ACTIVISTS OR IMMIGRATION ORGANIZATIONS OR PEOPLE THAT HAVE HELPED OTHER IMMIGRANTS AND THAT IS HOW THEY END UP IN CHICAGO AND DIFFERENT -- WITH DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS.

A FEW HAVE GONE TO THE ILLINOIS COALITION OF HUMAN RIGHTS.

AND SOME HAVE GONE TO A CHURCH IN PILSEN AND SOME HAVE ARE NOW IN HUMBOLDT PARK.

>> WE'RE SETUP IN CHICAGO AND WE HEAR FROM LOCAL ELECTED OFFICIALS IF GOVERNOR ABBOTT WAS SEEKING TO EMBARRASS CHICAGO THAT IT DIDN'T HAPPEN.

IN FACT, READY, BRANDON GOVERNOR ABBOTT SAID THIS IS A NECESSITY BECAUSE BORDER -- SOUTHERN BORDER IS OVERWHELMED.

IS THERE ANY SORT OF POINT TO SORT OF SPREAD THE LOAD?

HAVE SANCTUARY CITIES THAT ARE POISED TO TAKE SOME OF THE LOAD OF IMMIGRANTS?

>> WELL, WITHOUT ANY DISCUSSION WITH THESE CITIES HE IS SENDING MIGRANTS TO ABOUT WHETHER THEY HAVE THE INFRASTRUCTURE OR THE CAPABILITY TO DO SO, IT KIND OF WATERS DOWN ANY SORT OF BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT HE GETS THERE IF HE IS TRYING TO ALLEVIATE THINGS FOR PEOPLE IN HIS STATE.

HOW IT'S PLAYING OUT MORE IS A PROTEST IN A SENSE OF THIS WHITE HOUSE AND THIS FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S IMMIGRATION POLICIES.

AND HE IS TARGETING NEW YORK, WASHINGTON D.C., CHICAGO, DEMOCRAT RUN CITIES TO TRY TO MAKE THIS POINT.

THE QUESTION GOING FORWARD IS: HOW MUCH LONGER IS ABBOTT GOING TO DO THIS?

AND ALSO, CAN CHICAGO MAINTAIN ENOUGH INFRASTRUCTURE AND BE ABLE TO ASSIST ALL OF THE CENTRAL MIGRANTS THAT MIGHT BE BUSSED HERE IF HE DOES CONTINUE THIS FOR WEEKS OR MONTHS.

>> THERE IS IRONY.

I READ A TEXAS TRIBUNE STORY THAT SAID GOVERNOR ABBOTT SPENT $12 MILLION ON THIS EFFORT AND BROUGHT 8900 MIGRANTS TO CITIES IT'S FREE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION FOR THE MIGRANTS.

THERE'S SOME SORT OF POLITICAL IRONY HE IS GETTING PEOPLE OUT OF TEXAS INTO MORE FRIENDLY AREAS.

>> THEY ARE BEING WELL RECEIVED PERHAPS BETTER THAN THEY WOBBLES WHERE.

OF COURSE POLITICAL POTENTIALLY FOR ABBOTT AS WELL FOR POLITICIANS LIKE MAYOR LIGHTFOOT POTENTIALLY AS WELL.

AND I WANT TO GET THERE.

LET'S TALK ABOUT CHICAGO POLITICS.

WE BEGAN TALKING ABOUT ALL OF THE ACTIVITY THIS LABOR DAY WEEKEND ON THE LAKEFRONT AND THERE'S GOING TO BE ACTIVITY IN THE MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS BECAUSE MANY OF THE ALDERPEOPLE THAT REPRESENT WARDS ALONG PARTS OF THE LAKEFRONT THEY ARE PART OF THAT ALDERMANIC EXODUS.

BRANDON, THE LATEST IS 44TH WARD ALDERMAN TOM TUNNEY MORE THAN USUAL IN TERMS OF THIS CHANGE-OVER?

>> YEAH, MORE THAN USUAL, INDEED.

THIS SEEMS LIKE YOU ARE SEEING A MASS EXODUS GOING ON.

TOM TUNNEY TOLD "THE SUN TIMES" THAT THE JOB OF ALDERMAN RIGHT NOW IS NOT A JOB THAT PEOPLE WANT.

AND THERE'S BEEN NUMEROUS SPECULATIONS WHAT THAT COULD BE.

SOME HAVE POINTED TO THE CURRENT MAYOR.

WE HAVE SEEN REPORTED STORIES ABOUT HOW MAYOR LIGHTFOOT DOESN'T NECESSARILY WORK WELL WITH THE CITY COUNCIL COMPARES TO THE PAST MAYORS.

BUT ALSO IT IS A STRESSFUL JOB IT IS A VERY STRESSFUL JOB IN A TIME WHEN CRIME IS UP AND A LOT MORE CHALLENGES IN THE CITY THAN IN THE PAST.

WHAT IS INTERESTING TO SEE IS WHO ARE GOING TO TAKE THE SEATS?

WE ARE GOING TO GET A NEW CITY COUNCIL COMING IN.

ARE THEY READY FOR THE CHALLENGES THAT ARE GOING TO HAVE TO FACE?

>> AND OF COURSE A POTENTIAL CONTENDER FOR THE MAYOR HIMSELF.

ALREADY ALDERMAN RODERICK SAWYER HAS HIS HAT IN THE RING AND THIS WEEK MAYOR LIGHTFOOT TOOK A STAB AT HIS FATHER WHO HAD FOR A TIME SERVED AS MAYOR SAYING EUGENE SAWYER WAS A PUPPET OF A RACIST WHITE MOB.

CLARENCE HOW DID LIGHTFOOT COME TO MAKING THESE COMMENTS AND DOES SHE NEED TO APOLOGIZE?

>> I AM FAMILIAR WITH SAWYER THAN I AM WITH LIGHTFOOT'S ATTITUDE TOWARDS HIM.

I KNOW SHE IS A FEASTTY MAYOR AND WHY SHE TOOK AFTER SAWYER I CAN ONLY SPECULATE.

PEOPLE HAVE MIXED IMAGES OF THAT PERIOD THOSE WHO WEREN'T AROUND THEN ESPECIALLY.

SAWYER, I THINK YOU TALK TO IN TOWN WAS EITHER A TOTETY OF THE OLD DPKIC MACHINE -- DEMOCRATIC MACHINE WITH BURKE AND FOR MARY JANE BYRNE.

SAWYER WAS A WELL LIKED GUY ON THE STREETS.

AND HAD A LOT OF CONNECTIONS FROM LASALLE STREET DOWN TO THE HOOD IF YOU WILL.

>> SOME OF THESE NAMES DON'T LEAVE THE HEADLINES.

ANOTHER THING THAT UNFORTUNATELY DOESN'T LEAD THE HEADLINES IS VIOLENCE AND ISSUES WITH HAVING POLICE ON THE STREETS AND THAT HAS LED TO THIS NEW OVERTIME POLICY.

TINA, THE SUPERINTENDENT OF POLICE ANNOUNCED THE NEW POLICY GUARANTEEING OFFICERS AT LEAST ONE DAY OFF A WEEK.

DOES THIS HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE STATE OF OFFICER SUICIDES?

WHAT PROMPTED THE CHANGE?

>> I BELIEVE IT IS ABOUT THE SUICIDES AND IT IS ABOUT THE WELL-BEING OF THE OFFICERS AND ALSO THE MAYORAL ELECTION.

BECAUSE THE MAYOR A COUPLE MONTHS AGO WAS STRONGLY IN SUPPORT OF THESE OFFICERS WORKING SO MUCH TO BATTLE CRIME IN CHICAGO AND ALL OF A SUDDEN MAYBE SHE GOT POLLING NUMBERS.

I DON'T THINK YOU HAVE A LOT OF POLICE SUPPORT BUT SOMETHING SHIFTED HER VIEW AND YES IT IS SOMETHING ALL OCCUPATIONS SHOULD CARE ABOUT WHEN THERE ARE SUICIDES AND ILLNESSES.

IT IS NOT A NORMAL THING FOR OFFICERS TO BE WORKING 11 DAYS IN A ROW.

>> ANYBODY HEADING INTO THE LABOR DAY.

BRANDON, BY THE WAY, NEW CIVILIAN OVERSIGHT FINALLY COMING DELAYED OF THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT.

WHY ARE WE STILL TALKING ABOUT AN INTERIM COMMITTEE?

IS THIS GOING TO PROVIDE THE OVERSIGHT OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT THAT MANY CIVILIANS HAVE BEEN CALLING FOR FRANKLY AFTER THE LAQUAN McDONALD SHOOTING?

>> YES, IT'S SOMETHING CALLED FOR, FOR A VERY LONG TIME.

AND IT'S GOING TO TAKE TIME TO FIND OUT HOW IT'S GOING TO TAKE SHAPE.

THE IDEA THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE COMMUNITY INPUT WHEN IT COMES TO THIS.

AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT OUR CITY HAS HAD TO GRAPPLE WITH POLICE VIOLENCE AND TAXPAYERS HAVE HAD TO PAY FOR POLICE VIOLENCE.

SO ANYWAY TO CRACKDOWN ON THAT.

THE MAYOR PROMISED TO TRY TO BRING THIS FORWARD AND NOW HERE SHE IS TRYING TO BRING THAT IN ORDER.

THE TIME SHE IS RUNNING FOR REELECTION.

PEOPLE DO WANT TO SEE SOME SORT OF PROGRESS HERE AND ANY PROGRESS IS WELCOME.

>> AND TINA, WANT TO TALK ABOUT WE ARE A A MONTH OUT FROM PEOPLE BEGINNING TO CAST EARLY VOTES IN THIS UP COMING ELECTION.

AND FOCUSING ON THE GOVERNOR'S RACE.

WE HAVE SORT OF A TWO-FRONT OF NEWS.

FIRST OF ALL WHAT DID YOU LEARN FROM BGA'S REPORTING ABOUT GOVERNOR PRITZKER'S BLIND TRUST?

>> I LEARNED THROUGH READING THIS THE BGA STORY THERE ARE CONFLICTS IN HIS BLIND TRUST WHICH WE SAW ALSO WITH BRUCE RAUNER.

WEALTHY PEOPLE WHO HAVE A LOT OF STOCKS AND THEY CLAIM THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON WITH IT WHEN THEY ARETH OFFICE.

THIS INVESTIGATION DID FIND THERE ARE SOME COMPANIES DOING BUSINESS WITH THE STATE.

SOME THAT ARE LOBBYING WITH THE STATE DIRECTLY WITH HIM.

AND HIS PEOPLE SAY HE DOESN'T KNOW WHAT THEY ARE HE IS NOT IN CONTACT WITH THE STOCK HE DOESN'T KNOW WHICH STOCKS ARE MAKING MONEY THIS IS INFORMATION THAT THEY WILL GET MORE INFORMATION WHEN HE IS OUT OF OFFICE AND ANY PROCEEDS WILL GO TO CHARITY.

IT SHOWS YOU THAT THIS BLIND TRUST IS NOT REALLY A GREAT SYSTEM.

IT'S A COVER FOR THE PUBLIC TO FEEL A LITTLE BIT BETTER WHEN A WEALTHY PERSON IS MAKING LOTS OF MONEY ON STOCKS WHILE IN STATE OFFICE.

IT SEEMS THERE'S MORE ROOM FOR TRANSPARENCY.

>> AND TINA ONE MINUTE LEFT PEEKING OF MONEY AN INFUSION OF CASH BUT ONLY $1 MILLION FROM DICK UIHLEIN TO DARREN BAILEY.

YOU COVERED SOME OF THE ATTITUDE OF VOTERS THAT ARE IN THE BAILEY AREA.

DO YOU BELIEVE THAT MONEY THAT SORT OF LOVE FOR BAILEY IS GOING TO BE ABLE TO TIP THE POLLS IN HIS FAVOR?

>> $1 MILLION IS NOT ENOUGH TO GO AGAINST J.B. PRITZKER $60 MILLION AND THAT IS TWO TO THREE WEEKS OF TV ADS.

SO I BELIEVE THAT HE NEEDS A LITTLE BIT MORE MONEY THAN $1 MILLION FROM DICK UIHLEIN.

>> AND WITH THAT, WE ARE OUT OF TIME.

SO VERY MUCH OUR THANKS TO TINA SFONDELES, CLARENCE PAGE, BRANDON POPE AND LAURA RODRIGUEZ PRESA.

AND THAT IS OUR SHOW FOR THIS FRIDAY NIGHT.

DON'T FORGET YOU CAN GET "CHICAGO TONIGHT" AND "THE WEEK IN REVIEW" STREAMED ON FACEBOOK, YouTube AND OUR WEBSITE WTTW.COM/NEWS.

AND BE SURE TO JOIN US TOMORROW NIGHT AT 6:00 P.M. FOR "CHICAGO TONIGHT: LATINO VOICES" AND AFTER THAT "CHICAGO TONIGHT: BLACK VOICES" AT 6:30.

THEN WE'RE BACK AT 7:00 P.M. NEXT WEEK.

NOW FOR "THE WEEK IN REVIEW" I'M AMANDA VINICKY.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE THIS LONG HOLIDAY WEEKEND.

AND GOOD NIGHT.

[♪♪♪]